2018 Nissan 370Z Heritage Edition Reminds Us This Car Still Exists

Can you believe Nissan's Z-car is 50 years old? No? That's because it isn't. It's 48. That isn't stopping Nissan from celebrating their front-engine rear-drive sports car's quinquagenary (look it up) with a special edition model though. Set to debut next week at the New York Auto Show, the carmaker has announced, is the 2018 Nissan 370Z Bumbleb--I mean, Heritage Edition. Distinctions from the regular Z are strictly cosmetic. Customers can choose between the Wiz Khalifa-inspired black-on-yellow paint scheme you see above, or a more subdued silver-on-black setup. Heritage Edition cars all sport yellow accents throughout the interior, for a look that's...terribly tacky, I'm afraid. 

First launched all the way back in 2008, the 370Z is not a new car in any way, shape, or form. It's been around for almost 10 years now—a fact amusingly magnified when you realize it was also the basis of the 40th Anniversary Edition Z-car, as well. To rectify this, Nissan plans to unveil a new Z concept car in Tokyo this fall that should preview what the 370Z's replacement will look like. 

I suspect this too-early release of another anniversary special Z is Nissan's last ditch effort to remind us that the 370Z still exists—a car that hasn't had significant mindshare from the automotive public in years. Baffling fun fact: It's possible to walk into a Nissan dealership today and spend nearly $50,000 on a fully loaded, convertible version of what is effectively a ten year old sports car—or twelve year old sports car, in Nissan years.